Our DHL Funny Car team started off testing in West Palm Beach a week and a half ago. We decided to change our motor combination for this year in an effort to run faster and pick up our 60-foot times. First two runs - mission accomplished. Instead of being two- to three-hundredths behind everyone at 60 feet we ended up carding the quickest 60-foot times of the entire Palm Beach test session. We were solidly two hundredths better than anybody else. A few runs later we ran one of the best runs to the 330 feet with our tune-up backed down and eventually we ran a 4.12 at over 300 mph on a run that I clicked it off a tad early on. Things were looking good and the confidence level for our team was high!
Last weekend we were in Phoenix. Let’s just say we didn’t waste any good runs there. A lot of teams had problems negotiating the track and we were one of them. In the end though, we found something that had been giving us problems in our clutch system so we are looking good going into Pomona. One thing I can say though is that we ate well. Every night was a new experience with Jim “O”, Jon “O” and Nicky. We ate at some killer restaurants and let’s just say that I wish I would have ordered my new fire suit a little bigger! I might have to just stay in the room and order myself a nice small pizza every now and then...
If you have never been to the Winternationals you are missing out. Over the years it has become one of my favorite events. All the cars are decked out in fresh paint and many have new designs. As a matter of fact, I just received my new firesuit and it looks awesome. Most of you haven’t smelled any nitro in quite a few months so it’s a great time to get back out there. And what can you say about our Southern California weather. I just checked the forecast and it should be sunny and in the mid-70s. I made my first 5.0 and 300-mph run back at Pomona in ‘95 and my first 4.7 run in 2005. I believe the quickest bump ever in Funny Car was at the Winternationals in 2007 and you had to run quicker than 4.795 just to qualify!! For me it is also special because I live just a few miles from the track and I have a lot of friends and family that come out to support me.
I can't wait for qualifying to start and if you haven't ordered your tickets yet, now is a great time. Drop by the Kalitta/DHL pit and say Hi. You'll be glad you did!
See ya there
Jeff